Immediate Family

About Algernon Henry Barkworth

Mr Algernon Henry Wilson Barkworth, Titanic survivor

A Justice of the Peace from Hessle, Yorkshire boarded the Titanic at Southampton (Cabin A-23, ticket number 27042, £30).

Barkworth spent much of his time on the Titanic with his new acquaintences Arthur Gee and Charles C. Jones.

On the night of the sinking the three men sat deeply engrossed in a debate about good roadbuilding, a subject in which Barkworth was keenly interested. It was growing late, however, and he began to think about retiring. Someone said that the ship's clock would be set back at midnight, so Barkworth decided to stay up until then in order to set his watch.

Mr Barkworth recalled that some time before the ship sank he went below to retrieve some items from his cabin, the musicians were playing a waltz, by the time he returned they had gone.

As the ship sank deeper he pulled a heavy fur coat over his lifebelt, threw his briefcase into the water and stepped in after it. He found the coat and belt buoyed him. He eventually made his way to Collapsible B but someone warned him that if he came aboard he would swamp the boat. Eventually, however, he was able to drag himself aboard the overturned boat.